Well another year of mountain bike racing for The Worcester Cycle Centre is now over and it has been a very eventful one from my point of view. I started my first race at Thetford (part of the National Points Series), going well as already reported on the web site. After that, things went a little down hill (literally) when I was out training and came back with a broken rib. I was therefore forced (as you can image) to miss the next two races, so my role changed to having to cheer the team on from the side lines.

My first “come back” race was at Margham Park, 50 km where I came in 5th out of 35 in the veterans. Very pleasing result, so obviously the rest did me good.

Mountain Mayhem was next which was enjoyed by all apart from the appalling typical English weather. However, the Team came in 15th out of 126 so it was well worth getting soggy for!

Again, next team effort was for the Bontrager Twentyfour 12 and guess what – it rained some more there to. Still, we would not let a mere drop of water deter us and Worcester Cycle Centre Team came 4th out of 27.

The next race was at Newnham in Plymouth. Despite poor weather forecast, the other half and I set off early to arrive in good time. When we reached our destination, the weather was bright and sunny, which stayed with us all day. After warming up the legs and ending up being further back on the start line than I hoped, I came in 4th out of 26 – 30 seconds behind 3rd, so I think there is a big lesson to be learned there!

The last race of the year for the National Points Series was Coed y Brenin. I had just been diagnosed with a really bad chest infection and told to “stay off my bike” but hey, those words are taboo. So yet again we made an early start and I am sure you can guess what the weather was doing without me having to spell it out – yes, wet. However, the sun did make an appearance about hour before we left so all was not lost. This was a very tough course with long climbs and then even more long climbs. The race was not going well after having a puncture only to find I had lost all my tools off the bike, both inner tubes had holes in them where they had rubbed (another lesson to be learned!) but after borrowing another puncture victims tyre levers, I was back on track. The fun didn’t stop there, last lap with no back brakes due to the terrain wearing them away and yet another puncture. I’ll be fine I thought, I’ve got an inner tube from out of the “goody bag” I received on registration. But wait, its got a car tyre valve on, so the hedge ended up wearing that as a party hat! Luckily, there are some kind competitors and I was thrown an inner tube so that I could finish the last 20 minutes on wheels and not on foot. Fearing I had come in rather low on the finishing results I ended up 6th out of 14.

My overall National Points Series ranking was 5th out of 53 so a very respectable end to the year!